THAMES VALLEY FEDERATION
Jo Cuthbert
Newark - July 2014
George Gallagher of Stonebridge takes first and second fed two weeks running
The penultimate race of the old bird season saw 37 members send 551 birds to Newark and they were let go at 12 noon in a North West Wind. After checking our fed forum for the race results that evening I was getting excited thinking that we at Houghton Regis had done it and won the fed it wasn’t to be and congratulations again to Stonebridge and George Gallagher who beat us to it. George took the first three in his club and was first, second and fourth federation. His winner, a three year old chec cock flew the 109 miles in two hours and twelve minutes to record a velocity of 1455.94. George must have had two together as its loft mate, a three year old blue cock was literally just behind him on 1455.02. From looking at the result Dr Kumara emailed me, it looks like George picked up a very nice eighty odd quid in pool money too! I think that George has either won or at the very least been second every week in Stonebridge and his name is always near the top of the fed result. I would love to be able to get a pic of George with his winning fed birds in front of his loft but for now I will have to use an old one. Dr Kumara please get snapping with your camera!
Houghton Regis did well this week with four of us getting on the fed sheet. A poorly Bill Smullen takes first and second club, third and tenth fed with his trusty Staf Van Reets. His winner is a very consistent blue cock and has won races before, Bill also took club pools again (give us a chance Bill!) The winning velocity was 1447. Bill was waiting for birds he had sent to Barcelona, we will all be really chuffed for him if he gets one. Pete Briars gets in the frame this week with his yearling widowhood cock on 1432. Pete’s wife Carol has gone off to Yarmouth for a week with her best friend and has left Pete to fend for him-self. Pete proudly told us he had cooked his dinner when he got to the club. I just snatched fourth position from Carl Ellwood this week. No guessing which was my first bird? My faithful blue pied yet again. Carl and I were both doing 1418 and his bird was one he didn’t expect, he got it in 2012 from Lier market.
E W Johnson and son win Apsley this week and take fifth fed with a three year old cock doing 1442. P and E Cox take second and third on 1420 and 1405.
The first fed winner of the year wins at Watford. Ken Clark’s bronze Jan Theelan yearling cock led the way on 1440 and takes sixth fed, this bird has previously had a second club. Mr Roy Barnes himself takes second, third and fourth on 1413, 1412 and 1396. His first bird is a four year old Janseen and has had many positions before. His two year old blue cock in third is his old strain of Busschaerts and his late bred yearling Grizzle hen is bred from Mick Brimicombe stock.
Over at Borehamwood the father and son partnership of Pete and Aaron Coomber took first and second club, both birds doing 1439. The winner is a two year old cock and pips its loft mate by a decimal to take the top honours. These two birds are father and son also and the winner has won the fed before. The bird in second has had fed positions and was thirteenth combine in 2013. Aaron tells me they are bred down from Phil Gomes stock crossed with their own and are Staf Van Reets. Peter Glenister takes third and fourth club with two cock birds doing 1436 and 1429.Peteand Aaron have had a good season and for young birds Aaron will be racing on his own with us at Houghton Regis. He has already told me he has got me a box of tissues ready, he says I will need them when he beats me each week! We shall see Aaron, I know you may be the one crying if you get beaten by a girl!
Total domination by P and J Harrison at Feltham this week, taking the first four. I am beginning to recognise these birds now as the winner, doing 1383 is their three year old Van Vault grizzle cock, this bird has also won Ripon, Berwick and been second Wetherby this year. He also takes all club pools, first show nom and wins the snowball. Jim’s next bird on 1372 is the two year old blue pied cock that goes back to the birds of Alan Jenkins and Dean Garratt and has also won Wetherby and Berwick before. Their two year old cock in third goes back to both Dean Garratt stock and Tom Kyle of Lanarkshire and both parents are winners.
I can’t believe it is already the last old bird race next week! I am deciding whether to be brave and send two of my yearlings. I would really love to say I had flown the whole race programme and got on the result each week. I started with 18 and have 13 left and they have done me proud. Now to the hard work of getting the young birds ready. Will be glad when school is out and it is easier to train. All the best to everyone for the last race from Stonehaven.
George Gallagher at a previous Stonebridge show
Houghton Regis's Pete Briars
Aaron Coomber, soon to be beating me at Houghton Regis (he hopes).
---